Holding means for instruments



1938. B. MISHELEVICH HAL 2,132,992

HOLDING MEANS FOR INSTRUMENTS Filed Jan. 8, 1937 N a N Insulazfior? INVENTORS N Berg 0min lJ/releuic/z BY an nkola z'c/I THEIR ATTORNEY portions 5' to provide the desired mass.

Patented Oct. 11, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HOLDING MEANS FOR INSTRUMENTS sylvania Application January 8, 1937, Serial No. 119,656

4 Claims.

Our invention relates to holding means for instruments, and particularly to holding means whereby the movable member of an instrument such as an electrical relay may be effectively locked against movement during shipment or handling of the relay to prevent damage which might otherwise result from such handling or shipment.

More particularly our present invention relates to holding means for locking against movement the oscillating member of a relay of the type known as a flasher relay in which the rate of oscillation of the oscillating member when the relay is operating is controlled by a compound pendulum having considerable mass.

We will describe one form of relay having applied thereto one form of holding means embodying our invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. l is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section showing one form of relay having applied thereto one form of holding means embodying our invention. Fig, 2 is a view partly in end elevation and partly in section of the relay shown in Fig. 1.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in both views.

Referring to the drawing, the reference character A designates an insulating top plate, which top plate supports allof the operating mechanism of the relay. Suspended from the top plate A by means of hangers I is a cast rectangular frame 2, and journaled at its ends in suitable bearings 3 mounted in the frame 2 is a rockshaft 5. This rockshaft is biased to one position by a compound pendulum P, and is arranged to be oscillated at a predetermined frequency which depends upon the proportioning and adjustment of the parts by means of a suitable motor device M- which we will describe presently.

The compound pendulum P may have any suitable form but in the form here shown, this pendulum comprises a cast U-shaped bracket 5 the upwardly extending arms 5' of which are pinned to the rockshaft 4 intermediate their ends, and are provided at their upper ends with enlarged A depending threaded post 5 is secured at its upper end within a boss 5' formed on the under side of the yoke 5 of the bracket 5, and this post carrles a counterweight 5 which is mounted eccentrically to the post 5, and which serves both as a means for regulating the period-of oscillation of the rockshaft within certain limits and also as a means for varying the position to which the rockshaft is biased by means of the pendulum. The counterweight 5 is arranged to be locked in an adjusted position by means of lock nuts 5' one of which is screwed onto the post 5 on each side of the counterweight.

The previously referred to motor. device M for oscillating the rockshaft 4 comprises an armature 6 which is pinned to the rockshaft l at one side of the bracket 5, and an electromagnet which cooperates with the armature 6. This electromagnet may have any preferred construction, but in the form here shown, this electromagnet comprises a winding I mounted on a backstrap 8 secured to the short arms 9 of L-shaped pole pieces 9, the long arms 9 of which extend upwardly past the opposite sides of the armature 6 and are secured to depending lugs 2 formed on the frame 2. The angular disposition of the armature 6 with respect to the rockshait 4 is such that, when the rockshaft occupies the position to which it is biased by the pendulum P, the longer axis of the armature will be inclined vertically at an acute angle with the magnetic field which is set up between the pole pieces 9 when the winding 1 is energized.

The relay also comprises a plurality of contacts I0 of the well-known mercury type comprising a pair of electrodes disposed in an evacuated glass bulb containing a quantity of mercury which flows into or out of engagement with the electrodes to make or break a circuit passing through the electrodes. These contacts of which only four are visible in the drawing are mounted in clips il secured to the yoke 5 of the bracket 5, in such manner that oscillation of the rockshaft through its intended amplitude will cause these contacts to become alternately opened and closed. To facilitate making electrical connection with the contacts, the electrodes of the contacts are connected by means of flexible connectors I2 to terminal posts i3 mounted on the top plate A, the connections being held in the proper spaced relation adjacent their lower ends by insulating members l4, l5, and I6 in the manner shown.

Two of the contacts l0 which are disposed on opposite sides of the rockshaft 4 constitute the operating contacts of the relay, and these contacts are so arranged that, if they are connected in series with the winding I in a control circuit for the relay, the electromagnet will become alternately energized and deenergized in a manner to cause the rockshaft to oscillate at a constant predetermined frequency which depends upon the adjustment of the counterweight 5.

Two metal stops [1 are secured to the opposite Sides of the frame 2 directly opposite the one arm 5 of the bracket 5, and these stops cooperate with the enlarged portion 5 of the arm to limit the extreme positions to which the rockshaft 4 is free to rotate. I

The operating mechanism of the relay is all enclosed within a suitable casing 20 which in the form here shown is a box-likemetal casting,

three of the sides of which are provided with glass windows 2! through which the operating mechanism may be viewed. The casing is held in position against the under side of the top plate A by means of screws 23 which pass through clearance holes provided in the bottom of the casing, and are screwed into tapped holes provided in the lower ends of depending legs 24, the upper ends of which are secured to the under side of the frame 2. 1

The flasher relay thus far described is disclosed and claimed in the copending application for Letters Patent of the United States, Serial No. 182,506, filed by Arthur W. Fisher and Benjamin Mishelevich, on December 30, 1937.

As will be apparent from the foregoing description', the various parts of the relay which are mounted on the rockshaft 4 possess considerable mass, and unless some means are provided for preventing the rockshaft from swinging duringhandling of the relay, damage is likely to result to the bearings which support the rockshaft, to the mercury contacts ID, or to the other parts of the relay. The means here shown for preventing movement of the rockshaft comprises '35 25 the upper end of which is provided with a an externally screw threaded locking member flange 25 'and with an axially disposed opening 25 which forms a cup, and the lower end of which is. provided with a saw kerf 25 for the reception of a screw driver to facilitate rotation of the member 25. The member 25 is screwed through a tapped hole 26 formed in the base of the casing 2|, in such a position that the axis of the opening 25* will align with the axis of the post 5 when the rockshaft l occupies the position to whichit is biased by the pendulum P, and mounted on the locking member on the under iside'of the base of the casing 2! is a jam nut 27 by means of which the member 25 may be locked in the position to which it is rotated. To prevent removal of the nut 26 after the locking member 7 25' is assembled within the hole 26, the-threads at the-lower end of the member 26 will usually be jammed.

our invention is as follows: When it is desired -toplace the relay in service, the locking member The operation of the holding means embodying at the lower end of the locking member, and the locking member is then screwed upwardly to the position in which the cup formed by the opening 25 receives the lower end of the post 5, whereupon the jam nut 21 is again tightened to hold the locking member in the locking position which it then occupies. It is obvious that, when the post 5 is within the cup in the locking member, all of the oscillating parts of the relay will then be securely held in the positions which they then occupy, so that damage to these parts caused by handling of the relay will be effectively'prevented.

One advantage of holding means embodying our'invention is that it provides a simple and effective method for protecting the relay during shipment.

Another advantage of holding means embodying our invention is that, when the relay is placed in service, the locking member remains attached to the relay where it is always available for use whenever the relay is to be transported.

A further advantage of holding means embodying our inventionis that, since the locking mem- I ber remains in the, hole 26 in the case when the relay is in service, it is impossible for dirt to enter the relay through the hole which is provided for the. locking means.

. Although we have herein shown and described only one form of holding means embodying our invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is: V

1. In combination, an instrument having a fixed part provided with a screw threaded hole and a movable part provided with a. projecting post, a screw threaded member screwed through the hole in the fixed part and provided with acup which is adapted to receive one end of said post when said member is screwed to one position to lock the movable part in a fixed position,

and a lock nut screwed onto said screw threaded member to lock said member-against rotation.

2. In combination, an instrument having a fixed part provided with a screw threaded hole and a movable part provided with a projecting post, a locking member screwed through the hole in the fixed part and provided in one end with a cup and in the other end with a saw kerf for rotating said member, said locking member being rotatable between a locking position in which the cup receives one end of said post and an unlocking position inwhich said member is out of the path of movement of said post, and a lock nut on said locking member for securing said member in a fixed position relative to said fixed part. 1

3. The combination with a. relay comprising a" an oscillatable shaft, a pendulum secured to said shaft for timing said shaft and having a projecting post carrying a counterweight for varying the period of said pendulum, motor means'for oscillating said shaft, and contacts controlled by the oscillation of said shaft all enclosed in a casing, of means for preventing movement of said shaft during shipment comprising a locking .member screwed through "a threaded hole formed in said housing, said member being provided in its upper end with a cup for at times receiving the free end of said post and being movable between a locking position in which said cup receives said post and an unlocking position in which said locking member is out of engagement with said post. 7

' 4. The combination with a relay comprising an oscillatable shaft, a'pendulum secured to said shaft for timingsaid shaft and having a projecting post carrying a counterweight for varying the period of said pendulum, motor means for oscillating said shaft, contacts controlled by the oscillation of said shaft all enclosed in a casing, of means for preventing movement of said shaft during shipment comprising a. locking member screwed through a threaded hole formed in said housing, said member being provided in its upper end with a cup for at times receiving the free end of said post and being movable between a locking position in which said cup receives said post and an unlocking position in which said locking member is out of engagement with said post, and a jam nut screwed on said member for securing said member against rotation.

BENJAMIN MISHELEVICH. BRANKO LAZICH. 

